Chapter 3 Rewrite (v1)

Stats as of last chapter:

Aubrey Hawthorne

Age - 4

Race - Human

Sex - Female

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Level 1

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Str - 3

Agi - 4

Dex - 7

Con - 5

Int - 7

Wis - 7

Luc - 7

Chapter 3 - I Hate Being a Child

I wake the next morning to my brother in my bedroom quietly trying to look through my stuffed toys.

“Adam?” I ask, blinking slowly.

He turns quickly and throws the toy down, babbling in a loud and almost accusatory way.

I can’t help it and start laughing.

I find Papa has already left for the day, leaving Mama to dress me for school. I get into thick grey tights, a knee length grey skirt, a white polo shirt with the school logo and name, and a jumper in deep blue with the logo and name again. When I sit at the table for breakfast, I am given a bowl of sugary tasting, vaguely grain-like things in milk that I eat with a spoon. I’m not a fan of it but eat nonetheless, primarily because Mama looks as if she’s had no sleep all night. As I am eating, Mama spells my hair to brush and plait itself into two braids that end with bows in the same school colours.

Once ready, I am given my lunchbox and school bag and a kiss from Mama. “Okay, through the Floo,” she says quickly, directing me towards the fireplace. Jasmine starts to cry from her place on the sofa.

I do as I’m told, though I’m confused, and wait. She takes some powder, throws it into the light flames and they turn green.

“Okay, now step in Aubrey, don’t keep Grandpa waiting,” Mama tells me. “Have a good day today, I love you. Remember to drink all your juice, okay?”

“Okay,” I say. “But Mama, I forgot what to say.”

“You say, ‘Number Fourteen, Crescent Street,’ and you’ll step out at Grandma and Grandpa’s. Are you ready?” She asks. Her eyes widen when there’s a small crash, the sound of something hitting the floor, and then my brother crying.

“I’m ready!” I say quickly. When I get close to the flames and feel no heat, I step in. I have to trust Mama. “Number Fourteen, Crescent Street!”

The sudden whirling was a complete surprise and I gasp, breathing in ash and who knows what else. I hold my breath to stop the coughing, not knowing what it’ll do to the magic, and right as I’m sure I have no choice but to give in to the coughing, I’m thrown out. I fall flat on my face, lunchbox and bag going flying.

“Oopsy-daisy,” a man chuckles, taking my arm and pulling my coughing body up. He hits my back lightly. “Choke up, chicken.”

I cough until I feel better. “Hi,” I croak out. This must be Grandpa.

He laughs. “Good morning. Are you ready for school?”

“Yeah,” I say, looking around for my bags. I run and grab them. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Oh, you’re not late,” he waves away. “Come on, let’s go before it starts raining. Don’t you have a coat?”

I’m not sure if I was meant to have a coat or not. If I am, no doubt Mama forgot it with how tired and stressed she is right now. “Not with me.”

He tusks and goes through to his entryway. His house is bigger than my parent’s. The living room carpet is green and the entryway carpet is beige, and there’s a big mirror in the entryway that’s oval and seems old. Nothing seems exceptionally expensive at all, but it looks like my grandparents on this side are hard workers. One of the doors in there opens to a cupboard with coats and shoes, and Grandpa pulls a coat out. “Here, put this on.”

I don’t try to argue, putting on the large coat. It goes down to my shoe-covered feet like a ballgown. “It doesn’t fit.”

He waves that away too. “But you’ll be warm. Come on, off to school now.”

He opens the front door and lets me through. After locking up, we walk to school.

We’re silent on the way over, and when we arrive at the packed school, I am taken by Grandpa to my class line and we stand together until the teacher comes.

“There’s Mrs Albiquore!” He says, putting a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll see you after school. Have a good day.”

“Okay Grandpa, you too,” I say, and wave as he walks away. He seems quiet but very nice.

Mrs Albiquore stands at the front of the line until we are quiet and leads us into our classroom where all the other kids rush to some hooks to put away their coats and bags. I copy when I find my named hook, then go and sit on the floor like the other children.

A register is taken. Mrs Albiquore then explains, in clear words, that we’re learning about shapes today. I have to repress a sigh. I, of course, already know shapes. Being in school is going to be incredibly tedious for at least a few years.

Well, that’s not entirely true, I think as Mrs Albiquore draws some shapes on the board and asks the class what they are. I know the letters of this new world in individual ways only. I can probably make out small words, but I definitely can’t read. The Game text is all given to me in my own tongue, so it isn’t an issue yet, and my name I know. This schooling will at least help me learn the written language better. Once I can read and write, I’ll be able to teach myself the curriculum.

I probably already know a good bit of it - the maths and at least some of the science must be the same between my old world and this one. So I’ll probably know almost everything I’m expected to learn, except history and religion.

“Aubrey, do you know what this is?” I’m asked.

I look at the board to see Mrs Albiquore pointing to a shape. “It’s a rhombus, Mrs Albiquore.”

“Right! Make sure to look at the board, okay?” She tells me.

I nod and stare off that way. We have to sit for a little while longer before she tells us to go and we sit at different tables - we are assigned table groups already and I have to ask the teacher what table I am meant to be at, citing that I’ve “forgotten.” After getting a disapproving look, I am sent to the Butterfly table.

We have to make shapes with little clipping cube building blocks. I get my share and as the other children chatter, I make my two dimensional shapes as I’m meant to until I’m done, and then I disassemble them and make them again by trading blocks so I can make each shape a different colour. Even then, I still finish far faster than everyone else.

Just by looking around the room, I realise fairly fast that the classroom is split into tables of children of similar learning levels. I’m in the second highest of the six groups at present. No doubt I’ll get moved up to the top quickly.

Sighing, I dismantle my shapes and begin again, but this time I decide to make them all in the colour yellow.

.*****.

School is boring. School is tedious, in fact, after only half a day being here. I don’t mind dealing with a few children at a time, but being surrounded by children that see me as their equal with no one to keep them in line during the breaks except a lunch monitor they don’t respect is frustrating. My lessons so far, even though they’ve been based on learning through play, are aimed at the lowest learners. Of course I am above all the children there in terms of intelligence just because of my age, but even then, we spend an exceedingly long time on each little thing to make sure everyone gets it.

I know, logically, that I’m being slightly harsh. The children are four and five years old. They are little and do need all that time, even some of the highest achievers. But patience has never been a virtue of mine.

After lunch, we do purely learning through play, still focusing on shapes as well as throwing in counting. The teacher notices my mind wandering and questions me on it.

“I already know this, Mrs Albiquore. I just got bored. I’m sorry,” I say placatingly.

“I’m not sure you do,” she replies disapprovingly, giving me a firm look. “Please try to pay attention.”

I sigh very quietly and make sure to at least look like I’m paying attention after that.

After school I am picked up by Grandpa and he takes my bags from me. “Good afternoon Aubrey!” He greets me. “Did you have a good day?”

“No, it was boring,” I tell him, shaking my head dramatically.

“Oh no,” he says cheerfully. “Well, let's get home quickly. If we do, we’ll beat Grandma getting back from work and we can have some biscuits.”

That cheers me up massively and I grin up at him. “You’re the best, Grandpa.”

He just smiles.

.*****.

It takes the teacher until after the end of the Yule holidays - which were good fun and I met a lot of extended relatives during that time - to notice a change in me. In fact, she didn’t notice until a week into February.

She moved me up a group at school, into the Grasshopper Group, and my Grandpa gave me a high-five for it. My parents notice far quicker that I’m learning faster than I did before. They seemed happy and when I complained about the homework being so boring I’d rather not do it at all, they changed tactics.

One morning, only a week after the Yule holidays as this was before my teacher noticed my improvements, an owl tapped its beak against the kitchen window during dinner. Papa had opened the window and three barn owls carrying a big paper package came in looking exhausted. I was used to owls at that point but hadn’t expected to be given the package to open myself. Inside had thirty-five short books. Ever since then, I do my flashcards and writing because I have to do it for school at least once a week, and the rest of the time my parents have been teaching me reading and writing through those books. I improved very quickly.

My teacher, despite calling my parents in to discuss the improvements in February and make sure I continue to improve, doesn’t do anything much about it at that point except for, of course, moving me up a Group.

A few more weeks go by. Jasmine begins sitting with just a little support from cushions, and Adam starts a few hours a week in a nursery to make friends with other magical children, since he’s too young to be trusted to not do Accidental Magic around Muggles yet. My Mama and Papa go talk to the teacher after school asking for harder homework for me to keep up my advanced learning since I can clearly do it, and they are refused. I overhear Mrs Albiquore, from my place standing outside the classroom door listening in, say that to push me too hard is going to make the situation worse. That waiting me out is better.

Her plan, me and my parents realise, is to wait until the content gets hard for me so that I am on par with my classmates, rather than make the ‘problem’ worse by continuing to push me.

When we get home from the meeting, I stop in the living room.

“Mama,” I say. “Papa.”

Mama and Papa stop walking away and turn to me. Even Jasmine stares in my direction from her place in Papa’s arms, and Adam, who hero worships me, is already staring.

“I want to be taught more at home. I don’t want to wait until it gets hard at school,” I tell them in a strong voice, making sure there is no whine in my tone.

Papa sits in his spot on the sofa. “So you heard what Mrs Albiquore said.”

“I did.”

He nods for a moment and then looks at Mama. “I don’t see why we shouldn’t.”

“There’s no harm,” Mama says slowly. “I think it’s a good idea. As long as you want to learn.”

“I do want to learn!” I say earnestly. “I swear, I want to learn so much.”

Mama and Papa look at each other for a moment before nodding at me.

“Alright,” Mama says. “We’ll teach you more at home, but only as long as you behave in school. No talking back to the teacher if you already know something anymore. Got it?”

I grin. “Got it.”

.*****.

Learning at home quickly becomes my happy place. Everyday after school, Grandpa picks me up and if I’m let out right on time, we rush to his house as fast as possible and go straight to the kitchen where he gets us both a small glass of milk and takes the whole jar of biscuits to the table. Together we eat as many biscuits as we can before Grandma gets home, and then we swear up and down we’ve only had one each.

When I get sent home through the Floo, which I can now confidently use without falling out at the other end, I get a hug from Mama and Adam, and Papa if he’s home, and then I empty my lunchbox and take out any new homework I have. I do my new homework with ease since I know the content well enough now, before putting it away and playing with my siblings. Jasmine loves me and Adam including her. She doesn’t understand a thing we’re doing, but she likes to watch us.

Being at Primary School, though it gives me a place to learn some small things and Level Up my Skills - which I add to every day by a little bit - takes so much time from my days. I need a lot of sleep as a young child so I wake at seven every morning, get ready, Floo to my grandparents and stay at school until three fifteen and by the time I’m home from Grandpa’s and done with my homework from school, it’s usually four thirty. I go to bed at six thirty each night, so there are only two hours left to do anything I want five days a week. Plus I have to factor in baths and dinner and my bedtime story which all takes away a lot of my free time.

I could always move to a closer school if I want more time, but the local school only has a hundred kids in it right now and the one near my grandparents has a very good rating. I see the time loss getting there and back as worth it.

Then there are the weekends. I love the weekends so much. At school I had been given some Music lessons where the teachers tried to find if there was any young talent the school could jump on early. I took an immediate liking to the violin. In my past life, my lovely daughter-in-law Tyriel had been an incredible violinist. I had never been given an instrument to learn when I was young and had spent my later life focusing on other things, but ever since I heard music the very first time, I’ve wanted to learn to play something.

I had not been very good at it at school though. In fact, the violin had been taken from me to stop the horrid sounds. I was good at playing the piano, so they sat me there to learn with one of the teachers and proclaimed I was the young musical talent they wanted to hone in, but only on the piano.

Thankfully, when I came home still upset over the incident, Mama had held me close and promised to teach me herself. Her favourite class growing up had been Music and she still had some of her old instruments in the loft. Her childhood violin became mine and she started to teach me that day.

Tyriel would surely be proud if she could see how much progress I made with Mama in only a few weekends. It’s the only Skill I’m taking a long time to pick up on, which in a strange way makes it really fun. I picked up the piano quickly at school and even get an afternoon lesson every Tuesday - more time taken from me - I learn languages quickly, I do everything so fast. It’s an enjoyable change of pace.

Towards the end of April and after the Easter holidays from school, Mama is teaching me once more. Jasmine and Adam are both in the living room, my sister happily snoozing on the couch - she can sleep through literally anything - and Adam playing with one of his toys. Mama flicks through her music book and turns it to me.

“Can you read this, dear?” She asks me.

It takes me a moment but I slowly figure it out. The way musical arrangements are laid out is hard for me to understand. “I think so!” I nod before pointing at a note I do not know. “Well, not this one.”

Mama smiles as she pulls me onto her lap. “This can be a bit tricky, so let me go over it in depth for you,” she begins slowly, tapping the page where I had pointed. “This symbol we use when…”

It took an hour and a half, after which my brother got hungry and started whining, for her to fully explain and get me to comprehend that page and the next three. Of course, with Adam crying, Jasmine couldn’t help but to join in, having already woken from her nap. The lesson had ended with Mama carrying Jasmine and me holding Adam’s hand going into the kitchen for some lunch.

Days like these, the simple ones, are the best. Papa comes home early on Saturdays and we do some of my advanced homework together, I have time to play with Mama and Adam, and I have time to learn the violin and sit in my room and read little books by myself.

My fifth birthday is coming up soon. Mama promised me that if I still want a violin by then, I will get one for my birthday!

.*****.

My birthday came and went with a big family party at home. Magic Grandmother and Grandfather came to celebrate and brought me a dozen presents, and my Grandpa and Grandma came with almost as many. My maternal Aunt and Uncle couldn’t come but it was still one of the best days I had since being reincarnated. Adam had made me pasta and bead jewelry and I wore it all day for him, and I was gifted an amazing brand new violin just for me.

School continued in its boring way until I finished Reception and it became summer. As a family we went on holiday for a week in the Peak District, and I spent a full weekend at Grandma and Grandpa’s having fun a week after that. All in all, it was a good six weeks.

Year One begins. My teacher changes to Mr Oscar and I no longer have to learn through play. The content is still boring but my new teacher is at least slightly better about helping me have advanced work. He set up the highest achievers with their own spelling tests each week and now that there are a few of us reading, we’re able to go at our own pace. I can read and write very well in English now and have even switched The Game to only give me text in English to help me learn faster.

Unfortunately, the meetings my parents have with Mr Oscar help as little as they did with Mrs Albiquore. I am grouped with the highest achievers, I can read at my own pace, meaning I am onto children’s novels before the first half-term break, and I have the slightly more advanced spelling tests each week, but that’s the extent of it..

My parents just continue to teach me at home. They don’t seem to mind it too much.

Something from that meeting with my parents did leave me staggered though - one of the big transitions in Primary School is going from writing in pencil to writing with a Muggle pen. Mr Oscar told my parents that I was at the writing level of a Year Three, and that I was ready to begin cursive and writing with a pen, but I’m not allowed to in class so as to not make the other kids jealous. So all of my homework, while the same content, has to be done in cursive now.

“I don’t understand,” I groan from my place at the dining room table, homework spread out in front of me. “It’s the same work everyone else gets but with a pen. I’m not even allowed to use a pen in class so what’s the point?”

“The point is that you’re learning something new,” Mama tells me as she magically instructs various chores to do themselves around her. “Script is neater and more official. Once you can do script with a pen, I suppose I can start teaching you to do it with a quill, if you like.”

I do like the sound of that. I’ve barely been able to use a quill in the last almost year I’ve existed in this world. “I’d like that. But, Mama, why do you call cursive script?”

“That’s just how I learnt it honey,” she says, beginning to get some food from the fridge. “It’s the same thing.”

“Do I have to use script at Hogwarts?”

“Oh no,” she laughs. “Your writing just has to be clear. You do have to use a quill and be a fast writer though, so getting some practice now would be a good idea.”

It only takes a little while for me to learn script. In fact, it’s on the very anniversary of my reincarnation Mama begins to teach me to use a quill neatly and in script. I have that down by the time it’s the end of February.

I become bored quickly with Year One. My teacher has so little personality it’s hard to hold onto his words and now that my siblings are getting older, my lessons with my parents are getting further and further between.

For the first time in months, I speak to The Game.

‘Game,’ I address, speaking in my mind through that connecting cord. ‘May I know the average Stats and Skills of a five year old human child?’

Merely Observe your surroundings more carefully. I’m sure you’ll figure it out

Well, it isn’t an answer, but it is a clue.

I spent my full day at school trying to figure out how to Observe. I even get in trouble with my teacher for staring at people. By the time I get home I’m confused and honestly, kind of upset.

I finish my homework for the day quickly, writing out my spelling lines and my maths easily before putting my things away. I stay seated and stare at Mama. I have no idea what I’m doing wrong but I’m determined to work this out tonight!

Adam comes over to me and climbs up onto a chair. “Aubrey,” he grunts, pulling himself onto his knees. “Can I do homework with you?”

“I already did my homework,” I tell him.

“Oh. What are you doing now?”

I glance at him and see he has snot crusted around his nose. “I’m going to clean your nose.”

“Okay!” He gasps, rushing to get down from his chair. When he was younger he’d fuss so much about Mama and Papa cleaning his face, but he’s always been happy about me doing it.

We go to the bathroom together and I get some toilet roll and clean him up.

“Can we play trains, Aubrey?” He asks.

I hesitate for just a moment and then shrug. “Sure. Let’s play trains in the living room.”

Excited as anything, he runs off, his little legs going as fast as they can without tripping. He’s a little awkward when he moves, still working out how his rapidly changing body does things, and it’s very fulfilling to me. He constantly reminds me of my children in my past life. Every day I grieve not being with them. I hope that one day I will be able to look upon those memories with only happiness.

We set up Adam’s wooden train set in the living room and when the first train hits the track, the magic takes over and the little train starts puffing blue smoke and chugging an inch above the track, bobbing up and down as it goes. With him entertained watching it go, I try to Observe him.

I’m not entirely sure what I did differently, but I think to myself, ‘Observe, dammit!’ and suddenly I am presented with text in front of my face.

Skill Unlocked!

Observation

Level 1

Tells you basic information on the people or objects you are Observing. The higher the Level, the more information Observing reveals

+10 xp

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90xp to Level Up!

And when I clear that text, I am presented with his profile.

Adam Hawthorne

Age - 3

Race - Human

Sex - Male

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Level 1

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Str - 2

Agi - 3

Dex - 2

Con - 3

Int - 3

Wis - 3

Luc - 7

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Adam Hawthorne is the middle child and sole son of Angelica and Mark Hawthorne. He feels in awe of his older sister for how smart she is and really hopes she’ll have time to play with him. When she - or anyone else - doesn’t pay attention to him, he gets angry and upset

Currently he is being given attention, so he is happy

Amazing! I quickly get up and poke my head around the door. When I spy Mama, I command in my head, “Observe!”

Angelica Hawthorne

Age - 27

Race - Human

Sex - Female

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Level 23

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Str - 25

Agi - 20

Dex - 31

Con - 42

Int - 31

Wis - 51

Luc - 72

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Angelica Hawthorne is a very happy mother of three who enjoys staying home with her kids full time. She’s hoping to see them all to Hogwarts before she goes to get a part-time job in the Muggle world, so she can help her parents with their business as they retire

Currently, she is happy that her kids are happy and no one is crying

This is so exciting! When I close the tab and look at Mama I also notice that her name is now above her in faint text, following her above her head. I turn to Adam and see he’s looking at me. His name is also above him.

“Where are you going?” He asks.

I grin. “Nowhere. I was just checking on Mama. Where is the train off to?”

He looks at it and stutters in his excitement. “T-The train station!”

I sit on the other side of the track from him as he adds another train to follow the first. Curious, I look at the second train, an older one that is far slower and bobs up and down sluggishly, and think at it, ‘Observe.’

Toy Train

Age - 3

Durability - one fifth remaining

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This toy train loves and is loved by its users. It’s in dire need of repairs

That opens up a whole new world of possibilities!

Expecting the same with my sister, I Observe her also.

Jasmine Hawthorne

Age - 1

Race - Human

Sex - Female

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Level 1

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Str - 1

Agi - 1

Dex - 1

Con - 1

Int - 11

Wis - 1

Luc - 1

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Jasmine is one of the smarter people to have been born in the last year. She already understands the people around her as well as most words. She has not begun speaking but when she does, she will surely be able to use full sentences

She’s curious why you’re staring at her with a funny look on your face. She wonders what your hair tastes like, too

What? Jasmine has a Level 11 in Intelligence! I can only assume she must have some Perk I can’t see that is going to make her very smart in the future. For all her other Stats, everything seems to make sense. I’ll have to find some other babies to Observe. Well, not ‘find’ but if I see another baby I will try to Observe them to compare their Stats to my sisters to see if my theory could be correct.

To prove how much I love my new Skill, I’ve Levelled Up Observation to Level 4 by the time I am tucked into bed by Mama that night. Although I am tired, I slowly creep out of my covers and look over my books with the light filtering through my curtains. Each one I Observe has little descriptions telling me about them, and they even say if I will enjoy them or not if they’re fiction. I expect The Game is capable of either predicting the future or it has some other time-based powers. I could ask it, but I try not to do that too often lest it think I am trying to abuse my powers.

I Observe my new potions book Mama bought me, something for beginners, and am given this option after the usual Stats:

Would you like to learn the skill: Potion Making?

Saying ‘Yes’ will Devour this book

Yes

~~~

No

Well, that depends what Devouring means. I ask The Game this.

Devouring will allow you to absorb the material in the book without reading it, meaning you can instantly learn everything in the book. In the process, the book will be destroyed

Not wanting to destroy the book, I think, ‘No thank you,’ and the option disappears. I’ll read it tomorrow.

Tomorrow comes, and then a full week of reading as many books as I can find with Skills in them. Cosmetic Charms For All Occasions, Brewing Basics, Family Healing, Hair Styling for Beginners!, and so many more. I earn Skills as I go, getting a few Levels in each.

“Mama!” I call, holding Brewing Basics in the air above the kitchen counter. The baby gate is closed and I am not strong enough to open it, but she won’t be able to see the book if I stand there. All she can see is the top of my head and the book. “I read this book and it was really cool talking about what you can do with potions! Are there any other books in the house I can read about potions o-or magic!?” I ask as excitedly as any five year old would. Stuttering when excited is apparently something hereditary in this family. I hope I’ll grow out of it.

“Oh my,” Mama mutters, shaking her head. “I thought that was out of your reach. I got you a potions book of your own.”

I feel as the book is taken from my hands and I stand there, staring at the counter. “I read that too. I really loved it, so I wanted to read more about potions. I took notes and everything.”

She hums slightly disapprovingly. “Well, I’m not sure. I don’t know how much you should know about potion making at your age, it might not be safe. Let me talk with Papa when he gets home from his trip and I’ll decide another time.”

“Okay Mama!” I say, not wanting to push her on the issue. She is very kind and caring but she doesn’t much like being badgered. “What are we having for dinner?”

“I was thinking of lasagna. Does that sound good?” She asks as she goes about cooking some kind of sauce.

I nod happily at the choice before remembering she can’t see me and I say yes. It’s one of my favourite Wizarding World dishes.

Moments later, I hear the Floo go off and Papa calls out, making it home from his two week work trip a whole day early. I run right into his arms. As he’s hugging me, I Observe him.

Mark Hawthorne

Age - 28

Race - Human

Sex - Male

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Level ??

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Str - ??

Agi - ??

Dex - ??

Con - ??

Int - ??

Wis - ??

Luc - ??

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Mark works at his job in the Ministry. His projects are very private and he will change the subject if his work is brought into conversation. He loves his whole family and is happy you seem to be doing so well

The question marks are because I am not a high enough overall Level to yet see them, which I know because I’ve already asked The Game.

“Have you missed me?” Papa asks.

“I did,” I say, hugging his neck tightly. “Never leave again!”

He laughs and wraps Mama into our hug.

.*****.

At school I begin Observing everything I possibly can and learn to turn on and off certain people’s names above their heads. As of now, I don’t keep on anyone’s names as they’re all people I know, but I’m sure as time goes on I’ll need to use the ability to help me.

I am able to Level Up while Observing, giving me something called Statistic Points, five of them each time it happens. I save them for now, wanting to use them on something big. I don’t know what I might want to buy in the future after all, and for all I know, it might need a lot of Points.

I was probably going to put them into Intelligence, Wisdom and Luck. I’m sure once I get to Hogwarts I’ll figure it all out!

I finish the content for Year One even faster than I finished the content for Reception. This time, though, I have more access to the school than I did before. To keep me and my parents from causing too much fuss, my teacher allows me to spend my lunch breaks, after I’ve eaten, in the school library. I quietly read books each lunch, focusing on history, religion and other things that slowly push up my Skills, as well as a few novels with vocabulary I’ve not read, keeping a dictionary by my side. They’re not the best for learning from as they are aimed at young children that don’t have the same understanding I do, but I still learn a bit here!

What school didn’t teach me, my parents did their best with, and when they were busy, I began teaching myself. It didn’t take much begging for my father to agree to buy me books to self-study with. It only took one occasion actually, and less than a few words, and he had agreed. The only restriction I have was given by Mama, and that is on the amount of books I’m allowed to buy each month. Papa takes me to the second-hand bookstore on the first day off he has each month, and I’m usually allowed a few extra second-hand books on top of the two I buy new each month. It goes without saying, I quickly amass a giant book collection.

My Stats jump up higher and higher each week as I read each new book I get. Year One finishes with a few tests to see where we, the students, are at in terms of grading. The grades are posted to our houses - or my Grandma and Grandpa’s house in my case as my parents house isn’t that accessible by Muggle post - in envelopes. Me and my parents go through mine together.

“Unsurprising,” Mama smiles, kissing my temple. “You’re a little genius.”

“All top grades then?” Papa asks.

“Yes,” Mama nods. “A star’s are the top grades in Muggle Primary schools and our Aubrey has full A star’s! I think this means she deserves a little treat.”

Papa grins at the same moment I do.

“I do?!” I exclaim, jumping up from the sofa. “What do I get?”

“Just wait a few more days,” Mama smiles, putting the grades back in the envelope. “It’s going to be a surprise.”

I groan.

A few more days actually meant I had to wait a full week into the summer holidays for my reward. Mama and Papa drop my siblings off to stay with Grandpa and they take me through the Floo to somewhere called ‘Express Owl Postal Services, Hogsmead.’ We come out the other side of the Floo to a small building with a counter and all the walls lined in various breeds and sizes of owls.

My parents thank the man behind the counter and I quickly copy as we go into the street.

“This is Hogsmead,” Papa tells me, holding me in his arms. “We’re in the village right outside of Hogwarts.”

My heart almost jumps from my chest. “We are!?”

“We are. But we’re not going to Hogwarts today. We’re going to see a person called Mr Almays.”

“Okay,” I say slowly as he puts me down. I take his hand automatically and we begin walking at my speed. I’ve grown a bit over the last year and a half but not greatly, so I’m a slow walker. “Why are we visiting him?”

“You’ll see,” he grins widely.

I humph and pout as we make our way through the village. All the streets are made of cobblestone and the houses are wonky and old looking, but still regal and strong. There aren’t many people outside, and the ones that are all seem to be locals. Several shops aren’t open. From what I can see of the signs on the doors, they have reduced open hours in the summer, probably because there aren’t as many students to buy from them.

We turn a corner into a residential area and I immediately spot a man light up as he sees us. I Observe him.

Robert Almays

Age - 89

Race - Human

Sex - Male

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Level ??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Str - ??

Agi - ??

Dex - ??

Con - ??

Int - ??

Wis - ??

Luc - ??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robert is a happy old man who breeds Kneazles for a living with his lifelong partner Anderson Fold. He can think of no better reward than a Kneazle

A Kneazle? Is that what I’m getting for my reward? I’m sure I’ll like it, but I have no idea what it is.

When we get closer, Papa shakes his hand and introduces us. Mr Almay enthusiastically greets us back, seemingly delighted to bring us into his home. We follow him inside.

The entryway of the small house has a staircase leading up and one going down, but we are quickly ushered further into the house, through a door to what looks like a living room.

“It’s good to see you today!” Mr Almays smiles happily, clasping his hands together. “You mentioned a surprise, I don’t know if you want to say?”

“Yes!” Mama says quickly, leaning over to get my attention. I look at her. “Aubrey, we’re here today so you can get yourself a Kneazle kit!”

I am overcome with excitement. If it’s a baby animal, no doubt I’ll utterly love it! “Really?!”

There are some hugs and excitement exchanged between me and my parents before I am told to listen to Mr Almays’ instructions.

“This is one of our younger litters, Aubrey,” he tells me gently, leading me to a covered cage in the corner. The door is already open but I can’t see in from where I stand. “These Kneazle kits have two Kneazle parents and will live a very long time, up to even sixty-five years if you look after your kit right. When you see them make sure to be quiet so you don’t scare them and let the mother Kneazle smell you before you touch her babies.”

I nod and crouch down to look inside.

There is a fluffy grey and black large cat creature and around her, five babies.

“They’re like cats!” I whisper excitedly.

Mr Almays chuckles. “Kneazles are magic cats, so of course! They’re a little bigger and stronger, live longer lives and some have magic talents alongside their greater intelligence, but yes. Kneazles are essentially magic cats.”

Heart beating quickly, I wet my lips and slowly extend my small hand to the mother Kneazle. She leans forward and sniffs me for a moment before butting her chin against my hand for pets. As I pet her chin, I Observe her.

Brumeala

Age - 31

Race - Kneazle (Bugtussle)

Sex - Female

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Level 22

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Str - 20

Agi - 52

Dex - 66

Con - 35

Int - 12

Wis - 14

Luc - 22

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brumeala is the dedicated Familiar (i) of Anderson Fold. This is her third litter of kits. Using her innate powers as a Kneazle, she is going to try to make sure her young only go to good people. No doubt some of her kits will be equally as gifted as she

I scratch her for a moment, happy the mother of my kit has been raised by an affectionate parent so far. Focusing my eyes on her as she steps on the edge of the cage to get better scratches, I expand the (i) icon.

A Familiar is a bond created by an intelligent magical creature and a human, providing both Familiar and human with benefits unique to them. Familiar bonds are exceptionally rare. Even the most loving of pairs may never achieve this feat, though that doesn’t diminish their love for each-other.

Understanding, I finally look at her babies.

All five of the kits are similar in size, but it’s obvious what colour the father was. Three of the kits are solid white and although they have long baby fur, they seem like they’ll be short-furred when they grow older. Another is a dark grey with white feet, and the last is an almost copy of the mother cat, fluffy, grey with dark stripes, and a small white patch on its chest. They must be a few weeks old, certainly at an age to be taken from their mother.

I reach in and take the smallest baby out, one of the white kits, and it meows loudly.

Grinning, I watch as the mother Kneazle comes out and rubs up against me. My parents and Mr Almays start talking as I take out the rest of the kits and put them on my lap. The darkest baby, smallest one and another of the white kits escape me quickly and I have to put them back into their nest before they can scamper under the sofa, leaving me with one white kit and the grey striped one.

As I’m stroking them both, the mother Kneazle sits next to me and jumps up, rubbing her face against mine. Smiling, I scratch and stroke her for a moment before getting back to the kits. She seems to like me at least.

The white one seems happy and has settled down onto my knee to sit, looking around sleepily. The grey one is sitting on me also, pressed up against my stomach. The kits aren’t yet at a playful stage but do have some of that explorative nature coming out, as shown in the others that were more interested in getting away from me. What I wanted in a pet, or Familiar should we become close enough, is intelligence and affection. I don’t want an animal I’ll be feeding and never seeing. I Observe the white kit.

??

Age - 0

Race - Kneazle (Bugtussle)

Sex - Male

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Level 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Str - 2

Agi - 4

Dex - 3

Con - 2

Int - 1

Wis - 2

Luc - 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Kneazle kit enjoys warm places to sit and nap, as well as pets and food. He can be a bit territorial over food but has potential to be trained. He would make for a good lap Kneazle

He seems like a nice Kneazle to have. He could sit on my lap as I do my work through Hogwarts and go on to study more. He seems very cute and well mannered, and I am sure I could train his food aggression out of him at his age. I’d done it with grown animals so it wouldn’t be a difficult task for me, especially as I am now prepared. I Observe the grey one next.

??

Age - 0

Race - Kneazle (Bugtussle)

Sex - Female

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Level 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Str - 2

Agi - 8

Dex - 8

Con - 2

Int - 3

Wis - 1

Luc - 7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Kneazle kit is a very quick learner, playful and cuddly. She would do well with an owner willing to give her space to come to them for affection as she has an independent streak. She is still young enough to be influenced over how often she will want attention

I grin and scratch her tiny head with my index finger. She looks up at me, meows and jumps suddenly, climbing to my shoulder. She sits there and meows again, right in my ear. Even without her profile, I fall for her immediately and know I want her. I will be able to train her while she’s young to enjoy being given affection often, and she seems as if she’s strong enough to handle living with someone who will likely be doing a lot of travelling and exploring as time goes on. Perhaps I’ll be able to train her to follow commands as she’s so young and a good learner. Not only that, but it seems like she’ll grow to continue looking just like her mother, and Brumeala is utterly gorgeous.

Carefully, I put the white kit back into the cage with his siblings, who I don’t bother to Observe. Brumeala sniffs the kit on my shoulder, rubs her face against mine once more, and gets back into the cage to cuddle her remaining four kits.

“I’ve decided!” I say, carefully taking the kit into my hands. I look her over carefully, noticing her bright blue eyes and the little tufts of white on the tips of her ears. Overall she’s very dark bodied and a respectable pet or Familiar for a young witch!

“You’re sure?” Papa asks.

I nod firmly. “Yes sir!” I chirp, giving him a mock salute.

“Oh, what a wonderful choice!” Mr Almays says. “She’s the biggest kit, you know, and very smart.”

I grin at him. “She’s going to be super smart!”

He grins at me. “Do you know what you want to call her?”

“Talandorei,” I say immediately. “Tala for short.” In honour of one of my past apprentices, one I’d had a very close bond with. She’d been my closest friend at one point.

“All right, you play with her over there and we’ll get her paid for, okay?” Mama tells me.

I nod and sit by the fireplace, cuddling her until she jumps back on my shoulder and refuses to leave. We sit together for half an hour like that until we get to go home.

Tala digs her little claws into my shoulder and stays right there, looking around as we go home.

.*****.

I spend the rest of summer with Tala reading Skill books like mad, training her to enjoy affection and convincing my parents of the appropriate diet of a Kneazle. It only takes a few books for them to believe me and then Tala is put onto a premium diet suited for her carnivoran tastes. When I work out her favourite treats I’m also able to teach her some small commands, which she mostly does when I ask. She does them when she feels like it.

When Year Two begins they give me a couple of tests. Now that I can Observe, I have Unlocked these things called Quests. I know I do well in the tests because the Quests complete and give me a few rewards for getting full marks.

Unlike at the end of Year One, my teachers don’t give my parents any grading and I’m also the only one who was given the tests. My Year Two teacher, Miss Seamen, calls my parents in for a formal meeting instead.

Just like the other meetings they have, I am left outside the classroom door and I listen in on the conversation. The teacher uses words like “talented,” and “gifted,” before all but accusing my parents of getting me private tutors. My parents make sure she understands they did no such thing before insisting, once again, that I am simply a very smart child that likes to learn. They barely even teach me things anymore, which is true, they just give me books and I read them when I want to. I’m not even forced to study and they never have to tell me to do my homework.

My teacher doesn’t seem to believe them. But then, it seems one of my parents had used magic on Miss Seamen as she suddenly is entirely on board with how I am naturally very smart. I hope neither of them get in trouble for it.

Even with her agreement, though, there are policies and rules. I am not allowed to skip any years, which I’m not sure would be worth it anyway as I’d still have to wait until I’m eleven to join Hogwarts, but she does agree to try and give me homework just for me. My Mama is happy with that.

“Maybe one day you’ll come back and get a full Muggle education after Hogwarts,” she smiles when we’re at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

I look at her. “Of course I will, Mama. I want to learn everything. Not just being a witch.”

The smile she gives me is the most radiant I’ve ever seen on her.

.*****

The last four years of Muggle school are full of that same learning and joy. Me and my brother are the best of friends, and my Grandpa and Dad are my biggest fans. In only four years there are no doubts to any of my family that me and Tala are also the best of friends, probably even closer then me and Adam. I gain Skills and Levels in those Skills insanely fast and my mental and physical self change over that time. Even with referring to my parents, when the other children began calling their parents Mum and Dad, I did too in my head and to other people. They enjoy being called Mama and Papa though, so I continue to call them that to their faces.

Becoming an overall Level 6 made me one of the very best at Primary School in every way. I have Quests that help me get xp, just small little ones that I can complete easily. I hope they’ll continue through Hogwarts as they are the very best ways to gain xp. My favourite Quests, though, are the personal ones I am given with no xp reward. Things like helping Grandma make dinner, reading a story to Adam or helping to make packed lunches with Mum. I love spending time with my family.

This July, I will turn eleven. The summer holidays began earlier this year, so it’s a week until my birthday and I have no school. I’m sure that I’m ready for Hogwarts, but even if I’m not, I’m still going. With Tala stretched out on my stomach in bed, I ask The Game to see my full profile, Stats and Skills. It helps me feel better when the Hogwarts anxiety hits. They are instantly in front of me.

Aubrey Hawthorne

Age - 10

Race - Human

Sex - Female

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Level 6

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Str - 13

Agi - 14

Dex - 16

Con - 12

Int - 22

Wis - 23

Luc - 15

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stat Points - 25

Perk Points - 1

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Skills -

Acrobatics (+) - Level 39

Acting (+) - Level 41

Archery (+) - Level 5

Art (Drawn) - Level 12

Art (Painting) (-) - Level 3

Art (Piano) - Level 25

Art (Singing) - Level 7

Art (Violin) - Level 38

Body Language - Level 5

Bowling - Level 20

Calligraphy (+) - Level 5

Charms - Level 5

Cleaning - Level 12

Climbing (+) - Level 29

Computers - Level 14

Cooking (General) (+) - Level 22

Cosmetics (+) - Level 18

Crafting - Level 13

Cycling - Level 45

Daggers (+) - Level 5

Dancing (+) - Level 5

Deception (+) - Level 38

Dodgeball - Level 25

Football - Level 6

Gardening (+) - Level 14

Geography - Level 88

Golfing - Level 9

Healing - Level 8

Herbology - Level 5

Investigation (+) - Level 34

Language (Common) - Level 100 (MAX)

Language (Elven) - Level 180 (MAX)

Language (English) - Level 119

Language (French) - Level 20

Language (Latin) - Level 31

Language (Parseltongue) - Level 120 (MAX)

Language (Spanish) - Level 22

Lock-Picking (+) - Level 8

Magical Theory - Level 5

Mathematics (+) - Level 71

Meditation (+) - Level 44

Muggle History - Level 41

Observation - Level 23

Perception (+) - Level 41

Performance (+) - Level 9

Persuasion (+) - Level 12

Pool - Level 3

Potion Making - Level 5

Religious Knowledge - Level 42

Running(+) - Level 33

Science (all) - Level 48

Self-Care - Level 12

Sewing (+) - Level 5

Shadow Magic - Level 30

Stealth (+) - Level 43

Style - Level 22

Swimming (+) - Level 27

Tennis - Level 7

Transfiguration - Level 5

Weaving (+) - Level 5

Wizarding History - Level 12

Writing (+) - Level 48

Yoga - Level 18

The same as it had been last night. It helps, in some way, to settle my nerves. I had gotten that Perk Point when I had gotten to Level 5, but I had entirely forgotten to check what it means with Year Six being so busy. I’ll do it tomorrow, I’m too tired right now.

I have the foundations but no true abilities in the majority of my Skills right now. Most of them are just things I’ve naturally learnt over time. I’ll have a lot of work to do when I get to Hogwarts, I’m sure! No matter how anxious I get or how much I worry about losing the security of living at home as a child, I am incredibly excited to start my next journey.

I pick Tala up and pull her to snuggle against my chest, which she happily does. Another thing I can say with confidence is that I hold a strong distaste for being a child in this life. It may be more accurate to say I despised it. It’s all just too binding. Slow. Monotonous. It’s good for gaining Skills and spending time with family but it often isn’t all that fun.

I have one last summer at home and I’m determined to enjoy it, starting tomorrow! No more Primary School, no more homework. Just eight weeks of whatever I want.